Madison

One of Madison's early suburbs, the Vilas neighborhood was developed when Madison's isthmus became too crowded for many residents. Moving west, residents created a haven that borders the Henry Vilas Zoo and Lake Wingra and has its own entrance to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. Vilas boasts a small-town atmosphere bustling with students, artists, and intellectuals, as well as the thriving Monroe Street Commercial District filled with shops and eateries. Tree-lined streets and a variety of architectural styles comprise this Madison gem, and with its close proximity to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus as well as the Wisconsin State Capitol Building, this quaint neighborhood offers visitors natural beauty and access to some of the city's best haunts.